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CHURCH ELEMENTARY COURSE OF STUDY GRADES 1, 3, 5, 8 GENERAL The students will: Grade 1 know that through Baptism they belong to the Catholic Church. 3 know that they can become truly holy in the Church. 5 know that they live the Gospel and become holy in the Church. 8 know that, by living the Gospel in the context of the Church, they fulfill their vocation to become truly holy. 3 know and define the marks of the Church: one, holy, catholic and apostolic. 8 show how the Church reveals itself as one, holy, catholic and apostolic. 1 know that the Church is God’s family. 3 know that the Church is a community of the faithful. 5 know that the Church is a sign of Christ’s presence among us. 8 reflect on the meaning of the word “Church” and come to better understand the mystery of the Church as People of God, Body of Christ, and Institution. 1 know that a church is a place of prayer and celebration. 1 know the name of their parish church. 3 know that Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, is the patroness of the Catholic Church in the United States. 3 realize that, as Christians, Catholics have a special bond of unity with the Jewish people. 5 describe how some parts of the celebration of the Eucharist grew from Jewish rituals. 8 be able to show the relationship between Christianity and Judaism. STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH The students will: 1 know the name of the pastor/pastoral leader and associate pastor, if applicable. 3 know the names and the role of the pastor/pastoral leader and other ministers of their parish church: deacon, liturgist, catechetical leader, and other lay ministers. 8 know the role of the following: Pope, cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons, religious, laity; and identify present Catholic Church leadership: Pope, Bishop, Pastor/Pastoral leader. 1 know the name of the current Pope. 3 know that the Pope is the head of the Catholic Church. 8 know that Vatican City is an independent state in Italy and that the Pope lives there. MATRIX K-8 AUGUST, 2001 1 CHURCH ELEMENTARY COURSE OF STUDY GRADES 1, 3, 5, 8 3 be aware that the bishops have authority over various geographic areas called dioceses. 3 know they belong to the Diocese of Toledo and know the name(s) of our current bishop(s). 5 be aware that the bishops and archbishops have authority over various geographic areas called dioceses and archdioceses. 8 know that the Pope is the Bishop of Rome and the head of the College of Bishops. 8 know the process for the election of a pope. 8 know that magisterium is the teaching authority and teaching office of the Catholic Church. 5 realize that their commitment to Christ as expressed through the Catholic Church calls them to certain responsibilities, some of which are called Laws/Precepts of the Church. 8 become familiar with and know the Laws/Precepts of the Church. THE CHURCH IN APOSTOLIC TIMES The students will: 3 know the names of the twelve Apostles called by Jesus. 3 know that St. Peter was chosen by Jesus to lead the Apostles (First Pope). 8 know that the Acts of the Apostles relates the story of the early Church. 5 understand that the early Christian communities were the beginnings of the Christian Church. 5 compare and contrast initiation into the early Church with initiation into the Church today. 8 recognize the early beginning of the Church through the Pentecost event in the Acts of the Apostles. 8 recognize the various ministries of women and men operative in the early Church; e.g., St. Paul, St. Peter, St. James, St. Stephen, St. Cornelius, St. Lydia, St. Priscilla. 3 be able to identify St. Paul as the Apostle to the Gentiles (non-Jews). 5 describe St. Paul’s role in the early Church. 8 trace the missionary journeys of St. Paul and understand their implications. 8 know that the letters (epistles) were a means of communication to the early Christian communities. 8 identify the Jewish-Gentile controversy as a major conflict in the development of the early Church. 8 know that the Council of Jerusalem was a response to this conflict. 8 know that in Antioch the followers of Jesus were first called Christians. MATRIX K-8 AUGUST, 2001 2 CHURCH ELEMENTARY COURSE OF STUDY GRADES 1, 3, 5, 8 5 define the term “martyr” and know some of the early martyrs and their stories. 8 know the causes of the persecutions and their effects on the early Church. EARLY CHURCH/CHURCH LEADERS The students will: 8 recognize that following Constantine’s conversion he issued the Edict of Milan (313 A.D.) granting toleration to Christianity. 8 understand the role of Church councils in resolving conflicts and in the preservation of authentic teaching. 8 define heresy and recognize early heresies and how they brought about the development of orthodox doctrines. 8 know the purpose and results of the Council of Nicea (325 A.D.). 8 describe the role of some of these early Church leaders and apologists in spreading the Good News: St. Augustine, St. Jerome, St. John Chrysostom, St. Basil, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Justin Martyr, St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. Irenaeus. EARLY MIDDLE AGES The students will: 8 know the influence of the Germanic migrations on the Church in the West. 8 appreciate the contribution of monasticism to the Church. 8 know that the Catholic Church is made up of twenty-one Eastern Churches and one Roman (Latin) Church. 8 explain how church buildings (e.g., basilicas and cathedrals), relics, and pilgrimages were expressions of faith during this period. LATER MIDDLE AGES The students will: 8 understand the reasons for and the impact of the Eastern Schism (1054 A.D.). 8 describe the military, religious, social, and moral dimensions of the Crusades. 8 explore the influences (positive and negative) of the Renaissance on the developing Church. 8 identify some of these key figures of this period: St. Dominic, St. Francis, St. Clare, St. Joan of Arc, St. Catherine of Siena. MATRIX K-8 AUGUST, 2001 3 CHURCH ELEMENTARY COURSE OF STUDY GRADES 1, 3, 5, 8 REFORMATION/CATHOLIC REFORMATION The students will: 8 be able to identify Martin Luther (Germany) and explain his beliefs. 8 understand the various causes of the Reformation and identify some other key figures: Calvin, Zwingli, Henry VIII. 8 understand that the Council of Trent was the response of the Catholic Church to the Reformation. EIGHTEENTH AND NINETEENTH CENTURIES The students will: 8 know how the Enlightenment challenged the Church’s world view: the relationship between the Age of Reason and Faith. 8 trace the historical, social, political and religious background of Vatican I and show how its pronouncement of infallibility was a response to a crisis of authority. 8 know that during this period new religious communities were founded to meet the needs of the poor and uncatechized; e.g., St. Julie Billiart (1751-1816); St. Catherine McAuley (1778-1841); St. Katherine Drexel (1858-1955); St. John Bosco (1815-1888). TWENTIETH CENTURY The students will: 8 know that Pope John XXIII called the Second Vatican Council in order to better announce the Gospel to the modern world. 8 know that the major results of Vatican II include sixteen documents which exist to achieve the goal of bringing the Church up to today, leading to various results in the life of the Church. 8 know that the sixteen Vatican II documents discuss such topics as liturgical reform, the Church’s understanding of herself, the Church’s understanding of other Christians, dialogue with the modern world, etc 8 describe some of the changes in the Church as a result of Vatican II. CHURCH IN AMERICA The students will: 8 be able to discuss the role of women and men religious in the growth of the Church in America. 8 identify the first permanent Catholic settlement in the New World for the Spanish (St. Augustine, Florida); the French (Quebec); and the English (Baltimore). 8 know that John Carroll was the first Bishop of the first United States diocese (Baltimore, Maryland) and understand his importance in the development of the United States hierarchy. MATRIX K-8 AUGUST, 2001 4 CHURCH ELEMENTARY COURSE OF STUDY GRADES 1, 3, 5, 8 8 identify St. Elizabeth Seton’s role in the beginning of Catholic Parochial education in the United States. 8 describe the work of the Church among the immigrant communities who settled in the United States; e.g., through such persons as St. John Neumann and St. Frances Cabrini. 8 know the importance of the 1884 Plenary Council of Baltimore in the establishment of parish schools and the publication of the Baltimore Catechism. 8 know that the following groups displayed anti-Catholic sentiments: Puritans, Know-Nothings, KKK. 8 know that the Church in America was regarded as a mission church until the early twentieth century (1908). ECUMENISM The students will: 1 know that God loves all people and invites them to friendship. 3 know that through baptism followers of Jesus are called Christians. 1 know that all Christians use the Bible for prayer and worship. 3 know that all Christians study the Bible and use it in prayer and worship. 5 show some ways that Christians study the Bible and use it in prayer and worship; e.g., Bible study groups. 1 show respect for other Christian traditions; e.g., Lutheran, Methodist, etc. 3 show respect for non-Christian traditions; e.g. Hinduism, Islam, Judaism. 5 explain some aspects of other Christian traditions.
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